Realignment of State-Centre Relations : The Adenan Factor in Sarawak

The realignment of Kuching-Kuala Lumpur Relations when Adenan Satem took over as the Chief Minister of Sarawak. The statement issued by the Chief Minister's office partly explains why Sarawak's politics took a slightly different trajectory after Adenan Satem took over as the new Chief Minister for Sarawak from Taib Mahmud on 28 February 2014. He argues in his speeches that Sarawak had been left behind and needs to catch up with other states in the Federation of Malaysia. In Sarawak's local dialect, Adenan Satem used the word "ngepong", referring to catching up with other states. His catching-up strategies are central to the current centre–state relations in Sarawak. This chapter discusses centre–state relations between Putra Jaya and Kuching, specifically after Adenan Satem took over from Taib Mahmud. Responses from the centre to this political realignment are also discussed